windinthemaples: A lane of red maple trees in riotous fall color. (Default)
[personal profile] windinthemaples
One of Graeme's favorite games is to read pretend books. He'll snatch a pretend book out of thin air, open his palms out to examine it, and begin telling the story he finds inside. He likes us to do the same and it makes for an excellent game in the car, during diaper changes, anytime when a quiet storytelling exchange is in order.

Yesterday, it evolved into playacting.

We were laying in bed together, talking, when he discovered an invisible book on the coverlet. His story went like this:

Once upon a time, far away, there was a butterfly named Fairy. She was looking for nectar to eat and flew into a dark bear's cave. Fairy was afraid of bears! The bear was afraid of butterflies! The bear roared and fell, hurting his back. The butterfly poured cold water onto his back where it was hurt and then kissed it to make it better. "Do you want to be friends?", she asked the bear. The bear said, "Sure!". The two of them left the cave and found a big, big flower tree that was green and brown with lots of pink flowers for Fairy to drink from. The End.

Then it was my turn to read a pretend book. Graeme handed one over that, he said, was about a bear. I began to retell a familiar story about a butterfly and a bear, only from the point of view of the bear. Graeme was spellbound and by the time the two had retired to the sunny meadow with the giant flowering tree together, was determined to playact the story with me.

"I need to get my bear costume", Graeme said.

"Your pretend bear costume?"

"No! I need a real one!"

I rummaged in his old things until I found his fuzzy teddy bear coat with the ears on the hood. He was content wearing it as a cape draped over his head. I dug out a pair of my fairy wings so that I could play the butterfly and we spent maybe half an hour acting out the story and them improvising further scenes in their unlikely friendship. It was pure magic. At one point, I went and got my "fairy camera" and we took pictures of each other while eating imaginary berries.

The Bear and the Butterfly photo(11) Sleeping Bear

Later in the afternoon, he wanted to dress up as a "cowboy butterfly" and then run around with a musical chant of "flutter flutter flutter flutter--Howdy!". I live a charmed life.

Butterfly Cowboy Butterfly Cowboy Butterfly Cowboy

Date: 2010-06-02 01:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mermaiden.livejournal.com
Jenn was on the computer last night, and called me over hurriedly--I came, and WE BOTH DIED over how sweet, how amazing, how magical and perfect these pictures were. And how, how, how much we love our Goddess Son, and his magical momma~ <33333 But! Reading the story!!!! HOW CAN I LIVE?

Rachel. Oh my goodness. Both of you are such blessings, such magic in our lives. Wow. Just...wow. <333333

Date: 2010-06-02 03:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] willow-cabin.livejournal.com
HOW CAN I LIVE?

My reaction exactly! :O Ahhh, too precious!

Graeme is an amazing person, as is his mother. ♥

Date: 2010-06-02 04:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com
Aww, that's high praise to compare me to him. There are many times where I stop everything and just thank him for picking me. :) <3

Date: 2010-06-02 03:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com
:D <3

It was one of those moments where the light was glowing in his hair and I was perfectly aware, in the moment, of the magic and the presence that Graeme has.

The story, as it was told and retold and acted out, included a little butterfly-sized bucket to carry cold, healing water from the stream and sipping nectar from each other's cupped hands. :)

Date: 2010-06-02 01:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] neva-butterfly.livejournal.com
That's just too sweet and adorable for words. What a great story he invented!

Date: 2010-06-02 05:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com
I love the way his mind works. Some of his stories journey off into bizarre territory but they're all so dear to hear. :)

Date: 2010-06-02 03:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] costumenut.livejournal.com
I think I may die from the cuteness! Soooo adorable! I love kids' imaginations.

Date: 2010-06-02 05:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com
I know! They're amazing humans. :D

Date: 2010-06-02 04:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kehleyr.livejournal.com
Awww that was sooo adorable and the pictures are lovely :-DDD!

Date: 2010-06-02 05:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sugarmaplelife.livejournal.com
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed them! :)

Date: 2010-06-02 05:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kehleyr.livejournal.com
I definitely did... you have such a cute boy :-)!

Date: 2010-06-02 05:40 pm (UTC)
wanderlustlover: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wanderlustlover
These pictures are so cute. And such a lovely story!

Date: 2010-06-02 09:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rubymulligan.livejournal.com
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. You and Graeme should seriously be a children's book writing duo. DO EEEEEET. And then, when you're selling jillions of them, you can give proceeds to Pajama Program, etc. Totally.

Date: 2010-06-02 10:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] deadskream.livejournal.com
How terribly cute that was! I just can't wait for my lil girl to do stuff like this... hehe

Date: 2010-06-02 10:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elfinecstasy.livejournal.com
I am completely melted and I ADORE that boy of yours.

Date: 2010-06-04 07:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sidheblessed.livejournal.com
Awwwwww! That is just so precious!

Date: 2010-06-08 06:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sirenofthedeep.livejournal.com
***extraordinarily*** adorable, indeed! love love love the photos, 'specially the wondrously misty combo cowboy-faerie jumping leaping flying one..... many hugs and much fondness to you all!!! <3

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